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Forwarders warn Shanghai congestion could last weeks The new alliances and bad weather have made it increasingly difficult for ships calling at Shanghai to stick to their schedules. Average delays for container ships calling at Shanghai’s Yangshan deepwater port have increased by more than 40 percent since the beginning of April, and forwarders are advising […]

Detention-demurrage fight heats up for last word to FMC Shippers and others in the supply chain contend they should not have to pay for storage at marine terminals when it is impossible for them to pick up containers. WASHINGTON — A shipper-led coalition is clashing with container lines and marine terminal operators over who should […]

Fog, larger alliance ships cause massive Yangshan delays Poor conditions are exacerbating the challenges brought about by the new alliances at the port of Yangshan off the coast of Shanghai. More than 100 container ships are currently delayed outside the Shanghai port of Yangshan as a combination of dense fog and larger vessels assigned to […]

US shippers turn collaborative as logistics gets more complex Some shippers may consider collaboration a buzzword that’s been stale since the 1990s, but it’s slipping off their lips more and more often. Concern about future truck capacity coupled with more complex demands from customers are pushing US shippers to make transportation suppliers partners. That’s tough […]

Survey: Shipper displeasure with ocean carriers grows Smaller carriers serving particular markets got higher rankings from customers. Shippers and freight forwarders were increasingly dissatisfied with container lines through 2016, according to a survey by Drewry Shipping Consultants and the European Shippers’ Council. Savvy carriers that invest to raise standards have an opportunity to “truly stand […]

Amended Indian import tax targets shipping lines It just became more expensive for international container lines to operate in India. Transport and logistics services providers in India are disappointed and bewildered at government changes to a controversial service tax on prepaid, or cost and freight (C&F), imports. Heeding appeals from various trade and shipper groups, […]

If you build a port-adjacent, three-story DC, will BCOs come? An artist’s rendering of the three-story distribution facility under construction near the Port of Seattle. Prologis last week broke ground in Seattle on the first multi-story distribution center at a major seaport, raising questions of whether the concept, widely used in Asia, will attract enough […]

Trans-Pac spot rates slip awaiting peak season demand Economic projections from several sources have US imports performing well in 2017. Spot rates in the eastbound Pacific edged lower again last week as they have most every week since the pre-Chinese New Year peak in late January, indicating that imports from Asia have not begun to […]

China-Europe rail attracts smaller shippers as services expand Rail gauge changes in Poland and Kazakhstan now take two hours, a quarter of the time spent years ago. Editorial credit: whitelook / Shutterstock.com Containerized rail between China and Europe has evolved from a niche option with infrequent service and a small network, serving major high-value and […]

Brazil's MRS Logistica overcomes fire for double-digit growth A slowing economy and fire in the port of Santos couldn’t halt growth at MRS Logistica. Brazilian rail operator MRS Logistica overcame a start to 2016 marred by a fire that halted operations for two weeks in the port of Santos with traffic increasing 16.6 percent year-over-year […]